Reddit reviews The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus
We found 2 Reddit comments about The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Sure. If you want scholarly resources on the resurrection, then I would suggest The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach by Licona. You can get it on Amazon for about $35 and it's a long read at 700+ pages.
https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Jesus-New-Historiographical-Approach/dp/0830827196/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UCOAX5QZYQUY&keywords=the+resurrection+of+jesus+mike+licona&qid=1570211397&sprefix=the+resurrection+of+Jesus%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1
Another good scholarly resource is The Case For the Resurrection of Jesus by Habermas and Licona. You can get it for about $13 dollars on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Case-Resurrection-Jesus-Gary-Habermas/dp/0825427886/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/140-8576167-7556334?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0825427886&pd_rd_r=decfba9d-109a-4324-99c9-ba4523d42796&pd_rd_w=TIA6v&pd_rd_wg=EeKYx&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=WW1HBRRY8K7JV6EPDW3P&psc=1&refRID=WW1HBRRY8K7JV6EPDW3P
I would also suggest getting a general overview of the New Testament. Bart Ehrman is probably the world's leading skeptical scholar of the New Testament. His book on the New Testament, The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the New Testament Writings, is a great resource and can be bought on Amazon for around $6.
https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Historical-Introduction-Christian/dp/0195126394/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=introduction+to+new+testament+ehrman&qid=1570211027&sr=8-6
Other books that I would strongly recommend would be:
Early Christian Writings. A short read at 200 pages. A catalog of some of the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament. You can get it for $3 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Early-Christian-Writings-Apostolic-Fathers/dp/0140444750/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=early+christian+writings&qid=1570212985&s=books&sr=1-1
The New Testament: Its Background, Growth and Content Bruce Metzger was one of the leading New Testament scholars of the 20th century. You can get it for $20.
https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Background-Growth-Content/dp/1426772491/ref=pd_sbs_14_5/140-8576167-7556334?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1426772491&pd_rd_r=d83ca7e7-e9be-4da7-b3e8-3e5b6e143a27&pd_rd_w=AUNpT&pd_rd_wg=VLsLw&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=RESQKSAY5XYMKZ939JS7&psc=1&refRID=RESQKSAY5XYMKZ939JS7
The Fate of the Apostles, by McDowell. An in-depth study of how reliable the martyrdom accounts of the apostles are. A little bit pricey at $35-40.
https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Apostles-Sean-McDowell/dp/1138549134/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JBDB9MJMOVL8&keywords=the+fate+of+the+apostles&qid=1570212064&s=books&sprefix=the+fate+of+the+ap%2Cstripbooks%2C167&sr=1-1
Ecclesiastical History, by Eusebius, a 3rd century historian. Eusebius documents the history of Christianity from Jesus to about the 3rd century. You can get it for $10.
https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Background-Growth-Content/dp/1426772491/ref=pd_sbs_14_5/140-8576167-7556334?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1426772491&pd_rd_r=d83ca7e7-e9be-4da7-b3e8-3e5b6e143a27&pd_rd_w=AUNpT&pd_rd_wg=VLsLw&pf_rd_p=d66372fe-68a6-48a3-90ec-41d7f64212be&pf_rd_r=RESQKSAY5XYMKZ939JS7&psc=1&refRID=RESQKSAY5XYMKZ939JS7
I don't think you are talking with any credibility or actual authority here. I'll just use one example from the items you listed off:
>We have 0 evidence that the original 12 were martyred.
Yea, we do.
Dr. Sean McDowell is an associate professor at Biola University and historian / prominent New Testament scholar. In Dr. McDowell’s 2015 book The Fate of the Apostles, he completes a meticulous and thorough meta-analysis of the available historical evidence regarding the purported martyrdom of Jesus’ closest Apostles. In particular, McDowell focuses on the historical evidence produced within “living memory” of the Apostles as a way of preventing “the development of legendary material about the apostles" from affecting the analysis. He then analyzes, in detail, a set of four questions with respect to each Apostle’s martyrdom tradition. First, how many sources are there? Second, how early are the sources? Third, are there sources from varying perspectives? And fourth, is there a historical nucleus even if secondary details disagree? Using the totality of the appropriate evidence, McDowell then ranks each Apostle’s likelihood of having been martyred on the following scale.
First and foremost, McDowell concludes, based on numerous in-depth analyses of Biblical and non-Biblical historical evidence, that the Apostles Peter, Paul, and James the son of Zebedee were martyred for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth with “the highest possible probability” in all three cases. [pg. 55-92; 93-114; 187-192]. Regarding causes of death for each of their martyrdoms, the evidence evaluated by McDowell strongly suggests that Peter was crucified, very likely while preaching the Gospel throughout Rome, and more probable than not during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. [pg. 55-92]. The evidence that Peter was specifically crucified upside-down, as some church tradition holds, is inconclusive.
Next, McDowell concludes that Paul was very likely martyred for preaching the Gospel while in Rome during the reign of Nero, and was probably beheaded as a means of execution. [pg. 93-114]. Finally, the evidence analyzed leads to the verdict that James the son of Zebedee, was very likely martyred for his evangelism while in Jerusalem, put to death by sword, pursuant to the order of King Herod Agrippa—who was the Jewish ruler of Judea from AD 41 to AD 44, and considered James to be a heretic and apostate. [pg. 187-192]
In drawing these conclusions for the Apostles Peter, Paul, and James the son of Zebedee, McDowell analyzes and incorporates a plethora of textual sources (some Biblical, but with the large majority being non-Biblical). For example, with respect to Peter and Paul, McDowell cites the work known as 1 Clement, which is a letter addressed to the Christians in the city of Corinth. 1 Clement is dated by some scholars to as early as AD 70—although it is traditionally dated to circa AD 96. [Thomas J. Herron. Clement and the Early Church of Rome: On the Dating of Clement’s First Epistle to the Corinthians. (Emmaus Road: Steubenville, OH, 2008)]. A substantial number of scholars—including, for example, agnostic-atheist Bart Ehrman—agree with McDowell that 1 Clement provides notably early attestation for Peter and Paul’s martyrdoms. [Bart Ehrman. The Apostolic Fathers. (Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA: 2004). 1:24.]. It reads, in relevant part:
“We should consider the noble examples of our own generation. Because of jealousy and envy the greatest and most upright pillars were persecuted, and they struggled in the contest even to death. We should see before our eyes the good apostles. There is Peter, who because of unjust jealousy bore up under hardships not just once or twice, but many times; and having thus borne his witness he went to the place of glory that he deserved. Because of jealousy and strife Paul pointed the way to the prize for endurance. Seven times he bore chains; he was sent into exile and stoned; he served as a herald in both the East and the West; and he received the noble reputation for his faith. He taught righteousness to the whole world, and came to the limits of the West, bearing his witness before the rulers. And so he was set free from this world and transported up to the holy place, having become the greatest example of endurance.”
[Clement of Rome. The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. c. AD 96. 5:2-7]
Further evidence cited in support of Peter’s martyrdom includes, but is not limited to, Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrneans 3.1-2; Ignatius, Letter to the Romans 4.3; Apocalypse of Peter 14.4; Ascension of Isaiah 4:2-3; The Acts of Peter; Dionysius of Corinth, Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.25; Tertullian, The Prescriptions Against Heretics 36; Tertullian, Scorpiace 15; Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.1.1; numerous texts appearing later in time (AD third and fourth centuries) than the foregoing texts, yet all confirming the earlier traditions; 2 Peter 1:12-15 (particularly when interpreted in the context of John 21:17-19); and the absence within the historical record of any competing narrative to Peter’s martyrdom. [Fate of the Apostles pg. 55-92]
Furthermore, with respect to Paul’s martyrdom, McDowell’s evidence includes, without limitation, Ignatius, Letter to the Romans 4:1-3; Ignatius, Letter to the Ephesians 12:2; Ignatius, Letter to the Philippians 7:1; Tertullian, Scorpiace 15:4-6; Acts of Paul; Dionysus of Corinth, Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.25; The Prescription Against Heretics 24, 36; Hippolytus on the Twelve 13; 1 Clement 6:1; 2 Timothy 4:6-8 strongly suggesting knowledge of his imminent demise; and the absence of any competing historical narrative with respect to Paul’s death. [Ibid. pg. 93-114]
Once more, regarding James the son of Zebedee’s martyrdom, McDowell’s historical support includes, in part, Clement of Alexandria, Outlines, Book 7 (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.9); Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles 26; Gregory of Nyssa; Homily 2 On Stephen; The Apostalic Acts of Abdias; Philip of Side, Christian History; the Acts 12:1-2 account of his death and the lack of any “legendary” embellishments contained therein; and, again, the absence of any competing narrative. [Ibid. pg. 187-192]
Moving past these first Apostles, we arrive at the Apostle James the half-brother of Jesus. Dr. McDowell concludes it is “very probably true” that James died as a Christian martyr, and that there is “the highest possible probability” that he was executed by stoning circa AD 62 while in Jerusalem. It is also “more probable than not” that James the half-brother of Jesus was thrown off a temple roof prior to his murder via stoning—possibly as a means of pre-murder torture. [Ibid. pg. 115-134]. Historical evidence for these conclusions is found in sources such as Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203; Hegesippus, Hypomnemata Book 5, as recorded in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.23; Clement of Alexandria, Hypotyposes Book 7, as recorded in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 2.1.4-5; First Apocalypse of James; Second Apocalypse of James 60.15-63.32; and Pseudo-Clementines 1.70.8. [Ibid.]
Thomas is "more probable than not."
Andrew is "more plausible than not."
Philip; Matthew; Thaddeus; Bartholomew; James the son of Alphaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Matthias are "as plausible as not."
Lastly, only John the Son of Zebedee is rated "improbable."
Summarizing his study, Dr. McDowell concludes:
“[T]he apostles were willing to suffer and die for their faith. . . . The consistent reason they gave is that Jesus appeared to them personally over a lengthy period of time (Acts 1:3). They were threatened, beaten, thrown in prison, and killed for their faith, and yet they refused to back down because they obeyed God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Whether or not all the apostles actually died as martyrs, they all willingly proclaimed in the risen Jesus with full knowledge it could cost them their lives.”
[Ibid. pg. 263]
This is not conjecture or recitation of legend. It is thorough and extensive historical research.
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Some of your other suppositions are also dubious (e.g., making claims with unjustified levels of certainty while providing no evidence) -- but this is long enough for one comment.